Crate structure.



PATBNTED AUG. 8, 1905.

E. F. HULBERT.

CRATE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28,1904.

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PATENTED AUG. 8,1905.

E. P. HULBBRT. CRATE STRUCTURE.

APYLI-GATION FILED Nov. 28,1904.

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gi wuz fot EEFaZbfrf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN F. HULBERT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO L. C.BROOKS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CRATE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application led November 28, 1904. Serial No. 234.591.

.promote its lasting or wear qualities to the greatest possible extent.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted tov different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodimentthereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa-vertical sectional view of a receptacle embodying the invention, thelining of the receptacle being broken away centrally. Fig. 2 is a planview of the invention. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective view showing thecorner portion of a crate structure embodying the invention. Fig; 4 is aperspective view, partially broken away, showing a portion of themetallic lining of the crate located adjacent the corner of thereceptacle. Fig. 5 is a broken horizontal sectional view of a cornerportion of the crate. Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view showing moreclearly the manner of attaching the lower ends of the truss-wires tocleats on the bot-- tom of the crate.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The improvements which comprise the invention relate more particularlyto that class of crates or like structures in which the body of thereceptacle is Acomposed of walls made of slats suitably secured togetherand reinforced in such a manner as to afford a device ing, as shown at13.

having substantially the same rigidity as many solid box structures,though less expensive, and having greater wearing qualities.

The crate shown in the drawings is of somewhat oblong formation; and itconsists, essentially, of the side walls 1, the end walls 2, and thebottom wall 3. The end walls 2 and the bottom wall 3 are preferablymadeof a plurality of slats 4:, secured together by suitable means. Theslats which comprise the several walls of the crate structure aresecured together by means of truss-wires 5, dis osed at intervals in thelength of the wa ls, which truss-wires 5 brace the walls vertically, aswell as -form connecting means for the slats. It is preferred to use twotrusswires 5 at the several points along the walls 2 and 1, and thesewires have their upper ends looped about longitudinal and transverserails 6 and 7, respectively, the latter located at the upper portions ofthe several walls aforesaid. Said truss-wires 5 are attached to theslats 4 by means of binding -wires 8, wrapped around the truss-wires atthe several points between the adjacent slats 4. The slats 4 are thusfirmly attached to the trusswires 5 by means of the binding-wires 8, thestrength of the wall structure being greatly increased in this way. Thelower extremities of the truss-wires 5 are secured to longitudinalcleats 9, secured to the bottom wall 3 of the crate by fastenings. Atthe ends of the several walls 1 and 2 are located vertical posts 10,said posts being secured to the ends of the slats which compose thewalls, adj acent which the respective member 10 is located. The posts 10of course cooperate with the truss-wires 8 in bracing and reinforcingthe walls of the receptacle, and the rails 6 and 7 are likewise suitablysecured to the parts 10 at the upper ends of the latter. The endportions of the adjacent rails 6 and 7 are secured together by means ofangle-plates 11, and in order to protect the corner portions of thewalls 1 and 2 similar means may be provided. The protecting means used,however, forms a part of an inner metallic lining 12, the end portionsof the sides of the lining being bent or folded about the end portionsof the slats of the wall adjacent the lin- The lining 12 is spaced fromthe walls 1 and 2 because of theprovision of the corner members 10, saidmembers 10 being located between the lining and the slats 4, whichcompose the walls. It will be understood that the lining also inclosesthe posts 10 when it has been folded about the end portions of the slats4, as above described. The posts 10 extend some distance above theuppermost of the slats 4 in order that the rails 6 and 7 may be attachedthereto, and the rails aforesaid are of several times the size of theslats in order that the upper end of the crate may be reinforced, thisportion of the rece tacle being subjected to greater Wear an servicethan any other part perhaps. The upper portion of the sides of thelining 12, which is bent at the ends, `folds about the posts 10 adjacentor at that portion of the post against which the rail 6 or 7, as thecase may be, is secured, the remaining portion of the lining being ofcourse folde about the ends of the slats. The portion of the lining 12which is secured between the corner-post 10 and the rail 6 or 7 isindicated by the numeral 13a. (See Fig. 4.) It is preferred to utilizealso a lining 14, made of paper or some 'fibrous material, which isdesigned to exclude heat and protect the contents of the receptacle in amanner which will be obvious. The lining 14 is especially useful whenthe crate is used to receive goods which may become damaged by theelements or the like. The lining 14 is secured inthe crate structurebetween the lining 12 and the Walls of the receptacle. In securing theparts of the walls 1, 2, and 3 together vertical angle-plates 15 aredisposed at the corners of the crate interior thereof, and these plates15 abut against the extreme end portions of the sides of the lining 12adjacent the portion bent therefrom, as shown at 13, to form aprotection for the ends of the walls 1 and'2 at the corners. Fasteningsextend through the plates 15, the linings 12 and 14, the posts 10,

the portions 13 of the lining at the upper portion of the crate, alsothrough the rails 6 and 7, and the angle-plates 11, securing said railsat the corners. The fastenings mentioned are indicated at 16 and arepreferably rivets or similar devices permanently securing the partstogether in the manner stated.

The side walls 1 of the crate preferably have the end portions thereofreceived between the end walls 2 at the corners, and it will beunderstood that the linings 12 and 14 are provided at the bottom wall 3in a manner similar to the disposition of these parts along the sides.Angle extensions 17 project from the lower extremities of the interiorangle-plates 1-5, and these extensions are riveted or suitably securedto the bottom wall of the receptacle, and this bottom wall 3, whichforms a part of the ends 2 of the crate, is braced by the provision ofthe parts 17 and the manner of securing the same to the crate structure.

In certain instances it is desirable that the crate be provided withrunners 18, and the latter extend lengthwise of the bottom wall 3thereof, being secured by suitable fasten-- ings. The bolts or rivetswhich attach the extensions 17 to the bottom wall 3 may pass through therunners 18 in order to secure the latter to the crate, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Runner-irons 19 are attached to theunder sides of the runners 18, and the ends of these irons extendupwardly, as shown at 19a, being attached to the end walls 2 of thecrate. The upper extremities of the parts -19a of the runner-ironsterminate just beneath the rails 7, and the latter are thus to a certainextent braced by said irons. To eliminate projecting parts, the irons 19.are made of roundedform upon the exposed sides. (See Fig. 3.) i

The receptacle as above described embodies a construction in `which thecorners are absolutely rigid, though the walls are comparatively light,so as to have a certain degree of spring or elastic strength. The wholestructure of the crate is reinforced peculiarly by the manner ofsecuring the various parts, so as to cooperate with each other inincreasing the general rigidity of the article.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isv 1. Incrate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom walls composedof slats, vertical posts at the ends of the slats composing the saidwalls, said posts projecting some distance above the uppermost of theslats of the several walls aforesaid, rails secured to the upperprojecting portions of the posts, corner-irons connecting adjacent endsof the rails, angle-plates secured to the inner side of the adjacentvertical posts aforesaid, and runnereirons extending longitudinally ofthe bottom of the crate and having the end portions thereof extendedupwardly at the ends of the crate and terminating just beneath the endrails aforesaid.

2. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom wallscomposed of a plurality of slats, longitudinal cleats secured to theunder side ofthe slats of the bottom wall, vertical postsat the ends ofthe slats of the side and end walls and projecting above the uppermostof the slats, rails attached to said projecting portions ofthe postsaforesaid, angle-irons securing the adjacent extremities of the rails,truss-wires arranged at intervals in the length of the side and endwalls, and binding-wires securing the trusswires to the walls, the upperextremities of the truss-wires being attached to the adjacent rails andthe lower extremities to the longitudinal cleats above described.

3. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom wallscomposed of a plurality of slats, longitudinal cleats secured to theunder side of the slats of the bottom wall, vertical posts at the endsof the slats of the side and end walls and projecting above theuppermost of the slats, rails attached to said projecting portionsjofthe posts aforesaid, angle-irons securing the adjacent extremities ofthe rails, truss-wires arranged at intervals in the length of the sideand end walls, binding-wires securing the truss-wires to the walls, theupper extremities of the truss-wires being attached to the adjacentrails and the lower extremities to the longitudinal cleats abovedescribed, runners arranged beneath the bottom wall of the crate, andrunner-irons secured to the under sides of said runners and having theirend portions projecting upwardly and terminating just beneath the endrails.

4. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom wallscomposed of slats or the like, a lining interior of said walls andhaving the end portions of the sides thereof folded about the ends ofthe walls, angleplates secured to the adjacent end portions of thewalls, andl extensions at the lower end of said angle-plates secured tothe bottom wall of the crate by fastenings passing through the bottomportion of the liningl aforesaid. f

5. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottomwallscomposed of a plurality of slats suitably secured together, aninterior lining comprising the sides having the ends thereof bentoutwardly and folded about the end portions of the slats composing theadjacent wall of the crate, vertical posts received between the foldedportions of the sides of the lining at the ends of the Walls aforesaid,and fastenings passing through the lining, vertical posts, and endportions of the slats.

6. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom walls,vertical posts secured to the ends of the side and end walls, a

lining comprising the sides having the end portions thereof foldedoutwardly so as to inclose or receive the vertical posts andadjacent endportions of the walls of the receptacle, angle-plates interior of thereceptacle and located against the end portions of the sides of thelining, and fastenings passing through the angle-plates, the verticalposts, and lining to secure said parts together.

7. In crate structure, the combination of end and side walls, verticalposts secured to the end portions of the walls at the corners of thereceptacle and projecting above the upper portions of said walls, railssecured to the upper projecting portions of the posts, a liningcomprising sides having the end portions thereof folded outwardly so asto embrace the adjacent end portions of the walls, angleirons securingthe adjacent ends of the rails aforesaid, angle-plates interior of thereceptacle at the corner portions thereof, and fastenings common to theangle-plates, the lining, the rails, the angle-irons securing said railstogether, and the walls of the receptacle.

8. In crate structure, the combination of side, end and bottom walls,vertical posts at the ends of the side and end walls and projected abovethe upper extremities thereof, rails attached to the proj eatingportions of the posts aforesaid, runners arranged longitudinally beneaththe bottom wall of the crate, and runner-irons secured to the undersides of said runners and having the end portions projecting upwardlyand terminating just beneath the end rails of the crate to brace thelatter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDwiN E. HULBEET. [L s] Witnesses HENRY S. HULBERT, ALBERT W. FLINT.

